How do we determine what we believe to be true?

Question: How do we determine what we believe to be true!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Research , form a hypothesis , test hypothesis or just take it on faith!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

What an indiividual perceives to be true is not the same as what in reality, is true!. When the individual perceives the cosmos, he or she gets only a taste of the truth, because as humans we have the potential to perceive some truth!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Truth is a value assigned only to propositions!. A proposition is either true or false, or meaningless!. Truth and falsity are the two truth values!. The value is determined by whether a proposition semantically corresponds with reality!. That is, does what a given proposition means match up with that in reality to which the proposition refers!? If so, the proposition is true!. If however the proposition does not even refer to reality, it is neither true nor false, but is meaningless!.

That is part of your answer, the part asking hat we determine what truth is in the first place!. Now, you ask about determining what we believe to be true!.

You did not ask how we determine what propositions are true!. Rather, you ask how we determine what propositions we can BELIEVE are true!. I can interpret your phrasing to connote the idea that we cannot ever know whether any propositions actually are true! Right now, the proposition "I am responding to this question" is true!. So yes, we can know, and not merely believe, that some propositions are actually true!. If we couldn't, we'd have no sound arguments in deductive logic!. Your question cannot be very approachable here in the phil!. category if you had meant to imply a psychological, perceptual or cognitive question!.

I'll answer this then, "how do we know when a proposition is true!?" Well, we can test whether it meets two criteria, 1) does it refer to reality, and 2) does it correspond with reality!? If we're unsure, we can test whether we have intersubjective confirmation over it!. That is, do more than person simultaneously agree over the truth of the proposition!?

But for propositions the truth values of which we cannot test in this way, as you implied in the first place we must aim for what we can believe to be true!. What criteria should we apply to arrive at such belief!? I'd say it is safe to believe a proposition to be true if it seems overall plausible, and it is logically possible, and it rings intuitively true, and if it is both consistent and coherent with everything that you know to be true!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Educate yourself on all facets of the subject!. Be open-minded to change!. Do what is right for your own life!.
Of course, truth is relative to each person and each situation!.
Believe what truth is relative for your life, wherever that may find you at this time, but never believe that you know the entire truth!. Be willing to admit when you are wrong or when another truth comes along that makes more sense to you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If I am determining truth in myself, I compare myself to the Bible, the Word of God!. If I am determining how true others are to me, I first go by my inward feelings!. If that is good, usually I take them at face value until I learn differently!. Most likely there will be signs following someone if they are deceitful!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well First you go with what you think is morraly right, or what you accept as good!. Then you incorporate it to what you think is correct logically!.

You may not be right, but emotionaly, and mentally you are and you can never be wrong untill you feel wrong, emotionaly and mentaly!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There are many types of truths!.

For instance, for daily, non-critical truths, authority is the major source of truths because life is too short to check every fact!.

For fundamental and important, it is a long, personal, and prone to errors process where unfortunately experience counts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Place two markers (1 marked True, and the other marked False) on the ground spin a bottle and wherever it stops is your answer!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Through developing sound judgement and wisdom!. Our hearts confirm what the translating mind understands!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Truth is something we conceive, hence if we believe, then it is!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Universe must be founded upon truth or it would not stay together!. What the Universe is made of, we are!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

When your belief is the same with the all the smart people!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

For me, I determined before I believe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

if you have the heart for something!. you will always believe in it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Knowledge,insight,and instinct!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

by an obtruce formation of logical encounter in our mind!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Brainwash!. Be make ourselfs belive it!. Kinda like religion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Either we simple feel it or we seek after it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

when u convince yourself somethimg u think it is trueWww@QuestionHome@Com

Does it fit in with what we already know!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I really do not know!.Www@QuestionHome@Com